Electrically-illuminated cross.



No. 676,853. Patented lune I8, 19ml.

H. J. SCHLACKS. ELECTRIGALLY ILLUIIIINATED CROSS.

Application filed Apr. 22, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

ILQEIEIT No. 676,853. Patentad June 18, l90l. H. J. SCHLAEKS.

ELEQTRIGALLY ILLUMINATED GRUSS.

(Appliation mm Apr. 22, 1599.) (No Model.) ZSheeis-Shaat 2.

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HENRY J. SOIILACKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICALLY-ILLUMINATED CROSS.

SPFQ'IFEGAEZON forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,8 53, dated June 18, 1901.v

Application filed April 22, 1899. Renewed May 15, 1901. Serial No. 60.866. (No model.)

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electrically-Illuminated Crosses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a novel construction in an electrically-illuminated cross for church-steeples, the object being to provide means for renewing the incandescent lamps without removingthe cross or requiring ascension to the top of the steeple; and itemsists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partially broken away, of a cross constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the illuminating devices therein. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are sections of the same taken on the lines 2 2, 3 3, and 4 4 of Fig. 1, respec- Lively. Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing the removable illuminating devices in position to be inserted in the cross and showing the pivoted side arms in position for illuminating the arms of the cross in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the lines 7 7 of Figs. 5 and 6. Fig.8 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the devices for supporting and raising and lowering the illuminating devices.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and effective means for illuminating crosses on church steeples, so that the lamps can be readily removed and replaced without removing or disturbing the cross and without requiring the ascension of a man on the outside of the steeple to remove and replace the burned-out lamps. To this end I construct ahollow cross A, preferably of iron and having rounded corners at the point of connection of the upright B with the horizontal arm 0. Said cross is provided with slots 1 and 2 iii the front and rear faces of the upright B and with slots 3 in the front and rear faces of the arms 0. Said arms are also provided with slots 4: in their upper faces for purposes hereinafter specified. Said cross A is connected at its lower end with a pipe 5, passing downwardly through the steeple, and through which the illuminating devices are adapted to pass into and out of said cross. Said illuminating devices consist of an up right D, consisting of two parallel platesG, joined at their upper and lower ends and by intermediate cross-pieces 7 upon which the incandescentlamps 8 are mounted. Pivotally mounted on one of said cross-pieces 7 are two arms 9 and 10, which are adapted to be swung together, as shown in full lines in Fig. 5, to enable them to pass through the pipe and the upright B of the cross and to swing outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and lie in the arms 0 of the cross when said devices are raised to a sufficient height. Said arms 9 and 10 are provided with lugs 11 and 2, respectively, the former of which fit between the latter, through which the hollow bolt 13 passes, which likewise passes through one of the cross-pieces 7. Said upright memberD is mounted upon the upper end of a pipe 14, mounted in bearings 15 in the crossbraces of the steeple, and carries a rack 16, adapted to be engaged by a gear-pinion 17, mounted on a crank-shaft 18, running in bearings 19 on one of the cross-braces of the steeple. Said rack is also engaged by a pawl 20 to retain it in its raised position. When it is desired to illuminate said cross, said illuminating devices are raised and the arms 9 and 10 thereof brought together and inserted into the lower end of said pipe 5, and by continuing to turn the pinion 17 the said devices are brought into said cross A. Said arms 9 and 10 are forced apart by a spring 21, coiled around said bolt 13 and hearing at its ends against the adjacent portions of said arms, but until reaching the middle portion of the cross A are prevented from spreading. As soon, however, as said middle portion is reached said arms 9 and 10 will begin to spread apart, and while so spreading and moving upward will project through said slots i in the upper faces of said arms B of said cross A and gradually recede again until they lie horizontally in said arms. In the upper ends of said arms 9 and 10 I mount antifriction-rollers 22, which serve to decrease the friction when said illuminating devices pass through said pipe 5.

I have not shown the electrical connections to avoid confusion, and, further, because I deemed it unnecessary, as every electrician could readily supply same.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a hollow cross, slotted on front face, of removable illuminating devices adapted to enter said cross and comprising a member adapted to fit within the upright member of the cross, and members carried by said first-named member adapted to enter the arms of the cross.

2. The combination with a hollow cross adapted to be rigidly mounted on a steeple, of a removable cross carrying lamps adapted to fit within said rigid cross and provided with arms adapted to fold together to permit the passage of said inner cross through the upright of said rigid cross.

3. The combination with a hollow cross adapted to be rigidly mounted on a steeple, of a removable cross carrying lamps adapted to fit within said rigid cross and provided with arms adapted to fold together to permit the passage of said inner cross through the upright of said rigid cross, and devices within said steeple for inserting and removing said inner cross.

4. The combination with a hollow cross adapted to be rigidly mounted on a steeple, and a pipe extending downwardly from said cross within said steeple, of a removable illuminating cross adapted to pass through said pipe into said hollow cross and having pivoted arms adapted to swing outwardly into the arms of said rigid cross, said removable cross being mounted upon the upper end of a pipe telescopically movable in said first named pipe and carrying devices adapted to be engaged by devices in said steeple for raising and lowering said inner cross;

5. The combination with a hollow cross adapted to be rigidly mounted on a steeple,

and a pipe extending downwardly from said cross' within said steeple, of a removable illuminating cross adapted to pass through said pipe into said hollow cross and having piv oted arms adapted to swing outwardly into the arms of said rigid cross, said removable cross being mounted upon the upper end of a pipe telescopically movable in said firstnamed pipe and carrying a rack adapted to be engaged by a gear-pinion mounted on a crank-shatt-in said steeple for raising and lowering said removable cross.

6. The combination with a hollow cross adapted to be rigidly mounted on a steeple, and a pipe extending downwardly from said cross within said steeple, of a removable illuminating cross adapted to pass through said pipe into said hollow cross and having pivoted arms adapted to swing outwardly into the arms of said rigid cross, a spring interposed in said pivotal connection to force said arms apart, said removable cross being mounted upon the upper end of a pipe telescopically movable in said first-named pipe and carrying a rack adapted to be engaged by a gear-pinion mounted on a crank-shaft in said steeple for raising and lowering said 

